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Voice of Nature : the trial

Maria Lucia Cruz Correia

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Voice of Nature is a site-specific court case that investigates how legislation and justice can serve the threatened ecosystems of the earth, or: an artistic proposal for ecological justice. What legal basis exists for defending nature? How can we turn a mountain or a river into a legal entity?

In the trial, Maria Lucia and her team connect conventional legal systems with processes such as restorative justice. They expose the trauma of damaged ecosystems and investigate the connection of such an ‘ecocide’ with power and colonization. Can we imagine a court case that transcends anthropocentrism? Is there a verdict possible that develops a collective language for humans and non-humans?

Maria Lucia Cruz Correia’s artistic work is based on her commitment to the environment. She responds to contemporary ecological infringements by bringing the public into contact with scientists, activists and lawyers, and creates temporary platforms that bring moments of division and harmony between seemingly unequal bodies of knowledge, cultural traditions, resistance, value systems and social transformation. In 2017 she received the Roel Verniers Prize at the Theatre Festival. Since 2012, she is part of the city residents programme of Vooruit. Her work is supported by the 2020 Network.